Beech A23A accident near Fort Myers, Florida, May 4, 1993
On May 4, 1993 at about 6:24 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N2312W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Myers, Florida (Page Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REQUEST WINDS ALOFT DURING THE WEATHER BRIEFING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1993 · about 6:24 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Myers, Florida · Page Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N2312W · no longer on the register · serial M-905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTURE, 20 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE ADDED TO THE REMAINING AMOUNT FROM THE 3.7 HOUR TWO-LEG FLIGHT TO THE PLACE WHERE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. AN ENGINE RUN FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENT OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BUT THE PILOT DID NOT TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT FOR DETERMINING FUEL QUANTITY BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING BUT DID NOT REQUEST WINDS ALOFT. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE WAS REQUIRED TO DEVIATE AND DID NOT LEAN THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE. WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS NEAR THE PLANNED DESTINATION, THE ENG SPUTTERED. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OPPOSITE TANK. THE FLT CONTINUED & WHEN IT WAS AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RWY 23 BUT THE PILOT WAS DISORIENTED. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AGAIN THEN QUIT & HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A TAXIWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 1/3 GALLONS OF FUEL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 282 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1993; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2J9 Quincy FL at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:28 pm from FMY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.